Unmanned vehicles (UVs) have been growing in both popularity and utility in the past 5 years. As the technology and capabilities of UVs advance, so too does the value of their commercial applications. UVs are becoming increasingly able to collect visual information and carry out complex tasks, and more industries are turning to these vehicles as a safer, cheaper, and more reliable alternative to incumbent solutions. However, current regulatory structures limit the ability to test and deploy innovative services. As UV pilot programs establish the safety and reliability of the technology, these regulations will likely adapt.

UVs have limitless application potential, several of which are just being examined. They have enabled information gathering once difficult or impossible. Many of these applications are less cost prohibitive than traditional solutions and are removing human operators from dangerous situations. As UVs become more mainstream both recreationally and commercially, their established track record will create more confidence in their use for other applications as well. Commercial adoption will continue at an increasing rate as the operational capabilities of UVs improve alongside automated solutions. Although the majority of use cases today are for asset inspection, aerial imaging, and agricultural operations, the improving technologies will be revolutionary for newer applications that take advantage of beyond visual line of sight and autonomous operations.

This Navigant Research report analyzes the increasing prevalence and advancement of UV technology in agriculture, logistics, asset inspection, emergency management, and insurance, as well as how upcoming changes will affect the growth of the market. The study provides commentary on the current regulatory environment and how Navigant Research envisions the future of these regulations and their impact on the UV market. It also identifies opportunities for stakeholders to focus on and what lies ahead to both be better adapted in the current market environment and facilitate the adoption of commercial UV operations.

Key Questions Addressed:

What are some of the most prominent unmanned vehicle (UV) applications?

What factors are keeping UV commercial applications from being widely used?

What upcoming changes will enable new UV applications to come to market and existing ones to be more easily adopted?

How can the industry best move forward while the technology matures?

How is the regulatory environment shaping developments in the UV market?